The great south of New Caledonia is nature at its best. From preserved landscapes, red soils, to amazing endemic species of plants and animals, step into a fascinating world . Sports lovers paradise, hike, kayak or bike your way through unique panoramas.

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!

The West Coast of the mainland (Grande Terre) shows off a great variety of scenery from its northern tip down to the area surrounding Nouméa. Characterised by both large spaces favouring cattle farming and a lagoon of stunning beauty, the West Coast is also host to a rich cultural heritage.

The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.

The Great South, comprising the Mont-Dore and Yaté municipalities, is the most symbolic region for New Caledonia’s three main colours: blue, green and red. From the rainforest to the mining lands there are a thousand shades of green, while the ocean offers a dazzling palette of blues. But if one colour dominates the Great South, it is the specific red of its ground.

Farino
The tiny town with a giant worm!

The smallest town in New Caledonia is also paradoxically known for its festival celebrating the giant Bancoule worm! This is also the land serving as a gateway to one of the territory’s most beautiful parks, Grandes Fougères.

Even though it’s still uncertain, the name Farino possibly comes from Farinole, a town in Haute-Corse (Corsica). It’s certain, however, that the first pioneers to settle here were mainly Corse. In particular, they introduced coffee farming, and Jean Mariotti, a Caledonian writer of Corse origin, was born here in 1901.

With 48km², Farino is the smallest town in New Caledonia. It has also been the least inhabited, but the 2014 census let it gain a few notches with its 612 surveyed inhabitants.

The rural ecotourism!

Another quirk of the town, which it shares again with its neighbor, Farino completely enclaved and has no access to the sea.

As part of this development, she could, of course, rely on the growing fame of the Parc des Grandes Fougères. It stretches over three towns (Farino, Moindou and Sarraméa), covering a surface area of more than 4,500 hectares and sheltering exceptional endemic vegetation. Out of the 500 plant species of the park (including the namesake tree ferns and several species of palm), 70% are endemic to the territory!

70% endemic species in Parc des Grandes Fougères

As a study location for researchers from all over the world, the park is also a haven of peace where thousands of visitors come to recharge. Of course, it’s possible to take foot-hikes (with 40km of marked trails) but also footbiking, for instance. Also within the park, you can find the unique Coeur de Farino, a waterhole whose unusual shape attracts the curious in droves!

The curious will try, the queasy will pass, but no one will have no opinion about the Bancoule worm! Organized on the second Sunday of September, the festival of the Bancoule worm is an occasion to try out very local gastronomy! The worms are actually larvae that feed exclusively on the soft, damp wood of the bancoule tree. They can reach 8 cm in length and 2 cm in diameter. Besides the head, it’s entirely edible (raw or grilled). During the festival in Farino, a contest is held for whoever can eat the most within a given time. Yum!

One of the major sporting events of New Caledonia, around the picturesque bays of Nouméa. New Caledonia International Marathon has become a key event in the annual sporting calendar and attracts around 150 competitors.